Cannabis plants are comprised of more than 100 different chemical compounds (also known as cannabinoids). These act on cannabinoid receptors throughout the body and alter the release of neurotransmitters in the human brain.

What is CBD?

CBD is short for cannabidiol.

CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two most prevalent cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t produce psychoactive effects, meaning you won’t get high when you take CBD oil or similar products.

What is CBD used for?

Widely available in creams, balms, capsules, oils, tinctures, e-liquids, and edible treats, CBD is typically used by people looking to manage or treat conditions such as chronic pain and epilepsy.

Though there is insufficient evidence at the moment, CBD shows promise for helping with anxiety and alleviating arthritis pain, too.

Is CBD legal in the UK?

Unlike cannabis, which is a Class B controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, CBD products are legal to buy and sell in the UK. There are just a few caveats:

  • CBD must contain less than 0.2% THC
  • Products must be derived from an industrial hemp strain that’s EU-approved
  • The ingredients must be clearly labelled on the packaging

Though CBD is said to have countless health benefits, such products are regarded as food supplements when ingested, or cosmetics when applied topically in the form of balms, lotions, and rubs.

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend that you only purchase CBD from a reputable distributor – like ourselves at Peak Organics – to ensure the products you use are safe and legal.

Can you take CBD supplements and drive afterwards?

Yes – as long as the CBD supplement contains less than 0.2% of THC, you should be fine to drive immediately after administration.

Again, CBD won’t get you high. So, unlike recreational (illegal) cannabis, it won’t affect your ability to focus and drive safely. In fact, many of our customers observed feelings of calmness and felt more alert after consuming our CBD products in moderation.

Does CBD oil show up on a drugs test?

To be clear, cannabidiol containing less than 0.2% of THC is completely legal in the UK. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely that a drugs test would be searching for the natural remedy in the first place.

If anything was to show up on a drugs test, it would be the THC – but as CBD only contains a small trace of the psychoactive agent, you’d need to take a significant amount for it to flag up on the test.

However, if you’re concerned about failing a drugs test, our best advice would be to stick to products with CBD isolate. These are pure CBD and contain no other cannabinoids (THC), flavonoids, and terpenes – just cannabidiol.

Can you take CBD products on a plane?

The simple answer is it depends on where you’re flying to. So, before you travel with CBD products, always check with the embassy of the country you are travelling to or through.

It’s also important to consider the type of CBD you have.

In the UK, CBD products must contain no THC (or trace amounts only). If you’re travelling within Europe, we advise you carry a product that clearly states the content on the label, as our CBD oil does. Don’t attempt to fly with a product that doesn’t have a label, as this will only complicate matters at the airport.

Places like the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and Singapore are all examples of countries that don’t allow passengers to travel with CBD. Switzerland allows low levels of THC (up to as much as 1%).

If you’re not 100% sure whether you’re allowed to take CBD on the plane, check with the authorities in the country you’ll be travelling to. If you’ll be changing flights, double-check with the authorities in the layover country, too.

Want to know more about CBD?

If you’re new to the CBD world, differentiating myth from fact can be difficult – but our experts are here to guide and advise you.

As one of the leading distributors of CBD products, Peak Organics know everything there is to know about cannabidiol, and will be more than happy to recommend the most suitable product for your needs.

To speak with a member of our team, don’t hesitate to call us on 0333 043 9975 or complete the online enquiry form, and we’ll be in touch soon.